Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-28
The New Departurc.

The New Departure.
The proposition to make some OF
our speed contests mile heats, two in
three, instead of the orthodox mum
ber, three in five, has created quite a
ripple of excitement. Last week at
Hartford the proposition fairly divided
popular attention with the great $10,.
600 stake, and opinions pro and cor
were freely offered. The Troy element
had little to offer in the shape of ar.
gument against the new departure,
except that the old system developed
a greater amount of stamina, game
ness or endurance than could
be obtained under the new sys-
tenn. If this is true, and a long
series of heats are necessary to de-
velop to the highest point of perfec-
ton the speed and endurance of th,.
trotting horse, why not make our
speed contests, six heats in ten, and
devote the entire afternoon to one
race. Such proposition, although
strictly consistent with the line OF ar
gument of those who obstinately ad-
here to the present system, would be
Immediately howled down by them as
an innovation. Is it not fact that
under the present system two gigan-
tic evils have grown to such
proportions that large num-
Der of races are not won
by the best horse. We refer to the
twin evils of laying up heats, and
using "helper." Nor do we believe
that it is in the interests OF honest
sport for horse which has the speed
OF his field to be held back for two
and sometimes three heats, which re
trotted in fast time, in order that he
may then win the next three heats in
slower time. We do not think that
such course is in the true interests
of the national sport; but when it is
remembered that in such a race the
pool box is worked to the fullest ex-
tent that the gullibility of the public
will permit, it is fairly open to the
worst charges that are made against
the short races on the running course.
If every heat were fought out by all
the contestants on its merits, as if it
was race in itself, then the three-in-
five-heats race would be an almost in
fallible test Of speed and endurance,
but under the present system, in spite
of excellent rules and vigilant judges,
a smart helper, cool driver, and a
full pool-box will defeat the best horse.
But it is not worth while to ask, is
the present system the best one to
test the highest quality of the light
harness horse? We have all heard
the old story OF the experienced trainer
who was asked what was the most
desirable quality in a race horse.
His reply was "speed." What
next, was the second ques-
ton. "More speed" said the
trainer. 'What else ?" said the per-
sistent questioner, "more speed yet,"
was the reply. Can we have sus-
tanned flights of the highest speed
without a concurrent force of the
highest endurance. For practical pur-
poses, must not these qualities be al
ways co-existent? We believe that
trotting races of mile heats, two in
three, will result in higher speed
rate, and that it will have no APP
preciable effect in reducing the en-
durance OF the breed. Ii the in
novation does not interfere with
the quality of our horses, on the
score of variety it will commend itself
to the general public. The managers
Of our leading trotting meetings find
the greatest difficulty in finding some
sensational specially which will at
tract the public, who are obliyious to
the charms OF the ordinary pro-
gramme. Each leading association
puts on its programme $4,000 for
special purse, which is nothing but a
tacit acknowledgment that the regu-
lar $1,000 purse does not draw. If
our trotters are allowed to show their
powers under variety of conditions,
public enthusiasm would soon
be evoked. In addition to the
orthodox best three-in-fve classes, let
us have mile heats, two in three, one
and two mile dashes, and two mile
heats. Let us have prompt judges in
the stands, no long waits between
heats, and a programme efficiently
completed in reasonable time. Trot-
ting is the national sport, and it will
always command the active support of
our people if divested of antiquated
conditions and made to harmonic
with the progressive character of the
age.-[California Spirit of the Times.